himself.

"I know what the malady is," he continued, raising his eyes to heaven;
"it is one that has to be concealed rather than acknowledged. Poor
youth! whom I love as my own son, if God, touched by my tears and thy
suffering, permits me to save thee, thy whole life will be too short for
thy blessings and thy gratitude!" And as Madame Martin asked what this
malady might be, he answered with hypocritical blushes--

"Do not ask, madame; there are things of which you do not know even the
name."

At another time, Martin expressed his surprise that the young man's
mother had not yet appeared, who, according to Derues, was to have met
him at Versailles. He asked how she could know that they were lodging in
his house, and if he should send to meet her at any place where she was
likely to arrive.

"His mother," said Derues, looking compassionately at Edouard, who lay
pale, motionless, and as if insensible,--"his mother! He calls for her
incessantly. Ah! monsieur, some families are greatly to be pitied! My
entreaties prevailed on her to decide on coming hither, but will she
keep her promise? Do not ask me to tell you more; it is too painful to
have to accuse a mother of having forgotten her duties in the presence
of her son... there are secrets which ought not to be told--unhappy
woman!"

Edouard moved, extended his arms, and repeated, "Mother!... mother!"

Derues hastened to his side and took his hands in his, as if to warm
them.

"My mother!" the youth repeated. "Why have I not seen her? She was to
have met me."

"You shall soon see her, dear boy; only keep quiet."

"But just now I thought she was dead."

"Dead!" cried Derues. "Drive away these sad thoughts. They are caused by
the fever only."

"No! oh no!... I heard a secret voice which said, 'Thy mother is
dead!'... And then I beheld a livid corpse before me... It was she!... I
knew her well! and she seemed to have suffered so much----"

"Dear boy, your mother is not dead.... My God! what terrible chimeras
you conjure up! You will see her again, I assure you; she has arrived
already. Is it not so, madame?" he asked, turning towards the Martins,
who were both leaning against the foot of the bed, and signing to them
to support this pious falsehood, in order to calm the young man. "Did
she not arrive and come to his bedside and kiss him while he slept, and
she will soon come again?"

"Yes, yes," said Madame Martin, wiping her eyes; "and she begged my
husban